Took RP and 'side-barred up' about 1 1/2 years ago. Made some immediate newbie gains in sex life and career due to frame and attitude adjustments, but finally got serious with the lifting part 1 year ago.

My marriage is good. I have great wife who never gives me hard no's, works hard, and is generally a great partner. The marriage suffered mostly from me and my bluepill mentality. Sex was stagnant and (you will be shocked to learn) chores, romance, date nights, foot rubs....nothing worked to make it better. RP concepts have improved everything, but this is about the lifting specifically.

I was 47 yrs old 5' 10" 150 lbs, weak and skinny-fat. I purchased a power rack, weights, and bench for my birthday. I did not ask. I just did what was necessary to make it happen. I bought Starting Strength to learn the lifts, but implemented Stronglifts 5x5 as my program. At first, I had trouble manipulating the bar and started every exercise at the minimum (mostly empty bar.)

Current stats: 48 yrs old 178 lbs. about 16% body fat down from 18%. Best lifts - Squats: 230 5x5 DL: 260 1x5 BP: 150 5x5 OHP: 105 5x5 Rows: 140 5x5 I'm about to go 3x5 on squats and OHP (in second deload cycle). I have often only been able to workout twice a week because my joints do not recover as fast as my muscles these days. However, they are becoming less and less of a problem as I get in more time.

Though my frame is strengthening and my behavior is changing slowly, I STFU about RP and the matrix. I'm mostly observing how the small changes I do make affect the environment around me and especially my marriage. MRP truths are true and have very tangible and practical results.

Results of lifting:

  • Generic confidence and feeling better - It just feels great to do hard things, to surmount a difficult weight, and feel more capable. Difficult to quantify, but I just have more energy and lift.

  • Better posture - I have always suffered from bad posture; rounded shoulders, stooped etc. Lifting has been a virtual fucking miracle in this department. My body knows how to hold itself now and I have the muscles to actually stabilize myself. Fewer neck problems and fewer headaches result. Plus, I look better.

  • Passive Dread - Incredible results here. My teenage daughter, home from college, saw me changing shirts and remarked, "Dad! You're so buff!," which is pretty funny because most of the time my kids waste no opportunity to insult me if possible. Her reaction was almost involuntary. It caused my wife's head to snap around to look at me and she got lost in thought. Later that night, my wife initiates a conversation..."So, what are your goals with the lifting...what are you trying to accomplish...?" Ha ha! Hamster wheel in full hyperdrive mode. This is a small example. There's simply no doubt my sexual experiences have been on the upswing lately. I'm probably nearing a full 3 point difference in SMV (2 for sure, the 3rd is getting there) because she has dropped 1. She's way more into it and at 48 yrs old I'm having the best sex of my life. The best part is there's still MUCH room for improvement.

  • She tells me things like, "your arms feel incredible!' during sex. This is a huge step up from the silence I was used to...plus, it makes me feels great and redoubles my efforts at the time. She touches me a lot more in general.

  • 1st unsolicited BJ of our 25 year marriage. - Yeah. Coincidence or not? Lol. Anyway, it sucked because she was terrible at it. Who knew it actually took some skill? I thought it looked easy...

  • A late-20's girl flirted with me at my daughter's soccer tourney - Out of town at a soccer tourney. I'm looking fairly good in my t-shirt (relative to my previous look) and get hit up by a 20 yr old asking me about a logo on my t-shirt to start a random conversation. This is notable because girls simply never talked to me first before lifting. Ever.

  • Better Sex - OK so I had no idea that Squats would be so valuable here. My new found power and stamina in my core, hips, and rear have given me much better abilities in the bed. I'm not sure anyone wants more detail than that, but I'm here to tell you, it makes a world of difference...it ups the confidence, the dominance, and she has responded to it more than I believed possible.

  • Backpacking Gains - It's my go-to hobby and passion. Lifting has increased my pace on fully-loaded brutal uphills from about 1.5 mph to 2.25 mph. I'm tearing up terrain that used to make me suffer.

What's the point of all this? It's to hammer home the point that lifting is absolutely required for the MRP man. There is no downside and the upside is enormous. There is a reason it's a cornerstone piece of advice in this forum. Even older guys will benefit. It does piss me off that I took so long to get this advice and I am going to make damn sure my son understands the value of lifting.

I've got a long way to go, but I'm trying to change the simple things first, not everything all at once. I hope that this will inspire someone to buy that rack they've been eyeing and get to work.